To celebrate the holiday season and in the spirit of giving, Hilton Garden Inn(R) presented teachers, staff and 160 children at Monte Vista Early Education Center in Los Angeles with three mobile garden GrowLabs(R) so students can grow gardens in the classroom or outside in the playground. The “Grow A School Garden” project teaches students the many facets of gardening and the importance of the global environment.
Each of the three classrooms at Monte Vista will have a GrowLab garden set on a mobile platform so the hands-on activity can be used by the children, who range in age from two to six years old, and be shared with the special needs students who are at the Center in the mornings. The mobile gardens are set on wheels so that they can be used in the classroom or moved to the playground for a growing project outdoors.
Ms. Lucy Baldonado, principal of Monte Vista Early Education Center, was presented with three garden kits filled with an assortment of vegetable and floral seed packets, pots and timers, to announce the blooming garden project that Hilton Garden Inn team members, teachers and students will embark on this winter season. Adrian Kurre, senior vice president-brand management, Hilton Garden Inn; Dawn Berry, vice president-brand performance, Hilton Garden Inn; and Mark Nogal, vice president-marketing, Hilton Garden Inn presented the mobile gardens to Ms. Baldonado, 35 teachers and staff and 160 students of Monte Vista Early Education Center.
“Our Hilton Garden Inn team looks forward to growing a garden—both indoors and out—with the students at the Monte Vista Early Education Center and growing a relationship with the students, teachers and staff,” said Kurre. “The indoor mobile garden comes complete with all the items needed for the children to grow vegetables and flowers right in their own classroom. This activity teaches them about the environment they live in as well as learn about other school subjects like math and science.”
Hilton Garden Inn has worked with the National Gardening Association (NGA) for the past three years and together has grown gardens with students in local communities. More than 60+ Hilton Garden Inn hotels throughout North America have worked with local students to grow school gardens.
“We`re thrilled that Hilton Garden Inn chose to work with us to grow a school garden,” said Baldonado. “Since most of our students live in apartments, they would not have the opportunity to grow and tend a garden. What a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn about the environment, while simultaneously learning to share and work together. We are truly appreciative of Hilton Garden Inn and their effort to grow a relationship with our teachers and students.”
NGA has worked with Hilton Garden Inn to develop a special garden education package, with all the tools necessary for hotel team members and the participating schools to grow an indoor or outdoor garden. Hilton Garden Inn hotels who have participated in the community outreach effort have donated a garden education package to their local school, as well as provided personal teamwork and dedication to grow this special relationship of a school garden together.
For two consecutive years, Hilton Garden Inn has received the distinguished “Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Price Hotel Chains with Full Service” award in the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 and 2003 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study(SM). Hilton Garden Inn is the upscale mid-priced brand that is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises approximately 2,100 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world`s best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Company(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R).
To find out more about Hilton Garden Inn hotels or to make reservations, please visit our Web site at www.hiltongardeninn.com or call 1-800-HILTONS from the U.S. and Canada.
The National Gardening Association, based in South Burlington, Vermont, is a non-profit organization committed to educating our youth about the importance of gardening and environmental responsibility. Through gardening, NGA promotes the advance of multi-disciplinary learning and scientific literacy and creates partnerships that restore and enhance communities. For more information on the National Gardening Association, visit www.garden.org.
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